Franchitti raises the traditional jug of milk awarded to the winner

Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 race on Sunday earning him more than �1m in prize money.

The Bathgate-born driver, who is married to actress Ashley Judd, is only the second Scot to win the event.

Now civic leaders in the West Lothian town want to honour him by adding his name to the town's welcome signs.

Currently the town's signs feature the name of James Young Simpson, the inventor of chloroform and the man hailed as the father of modern anaesthetics.

It is important for us to mark this because he was raised in Bathgate and I will appeal to the rest of the council that we recognise this Graeme Morrice Labour councillor

Senior Labour councillor Graeme Morrice suggested the tribute to the star.

He said: "It's not every day West Lothian spawns a world champion and it's incumbent on us to do something.

"It is important for us to mark this because he was raised in Bathgate and I will appeal to the rest of the council that we recognise this.

"There's a whole range of things we could look at. If he would like to come back and help us with this then we would be delighted because we would need to consult him on anything we did."

Franchitti currently lives and trains in Tennessee with his wife.

To date he has gained 14 wins and 14 pole positions in his US career. His younger brother Marino is also a race car driver.

Racing star

West Lothian Lord Provost Tom Kerr added his name to those wishing to honour the racing star.

He added: "I'm always happy to celebrate the achievements of someone and the fact that he is a Bathgate bairn makes it all the more special."

Franchitti was born in Bathgate and moved to Whitburn at the age of eight.

He was a pupil of Edinburgh's Stewart's Melville College and it was there that he discovered his keen interest for motor racing.

He was a regular at Knock Hill racing circuit in Fife where he raced go-karts through his teens.